Canton Township man faces charges in armed robbery
A Canton Township man was arrested Wednesday night for his alleged role in the robbery of a Washington man at gunpoint.
Nathaniel Johnson, 19, of 1132 Wilmington St., and a man as yet unidentified are accused of robbing 23-year-old Sean Miller about 11:20 p.m. in the 700 block of Catfish Alley. Miller told police the other man had a silver handgun. They ordered Miller to remove everything from his pockets. Miller handed over a $20 bill, cellphone and some assorted papers.
Officer Joseph Fichter, who was in the area, learned that the alleged robbers were in the 700 block of Fayette Street.
When Johnson and his alleged accomplice saw the officer, they started running. Fichter chased them into a yard at 730 Fayette. Fichter was able to grab Johnson as he tried to climb a fence. Johnson had Miller’s cellphone when he was apprehended, police said.
The other suspect, a black man wearing dark jeans and tennis shoes, continued running through yards along Bassett Alley. His coat and hat were found in the 500 block of West Chestnut Street.
A short time later, police spotted a 19-year-old McKees Rocks man who matched the description of the other robber on Cumberland Avenue in North Franklin Township. The man was not wearing a coat and his jeans were muddy, but Miller was not able to identify him as the other robber.
Johnson was arraigned before District Judge Robert Redlinger on a charge of robbery. He was placed in the Washington County jail on $20,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is set for Wednesday in Central Court.